Ri
"What's happening?" I looked from Apollo to Cai, both of whom were beaming widely.

"You're a goddess now," Apollo said simply.

"What-no way! I'm not a goddess, I'm dead!"

"Ri, Cai did it. Nyx is dead," Apollo rushed forwards and took my hands in his.

A feeling of overwhelming pride formed in my chest, I looked at Cai, all thoughts of confusion gone.

"You did it?" I smiled, "you really did it?"

"I did," Cai smiled back at me, "I took away her immortality, and she fell into the void. There's no coming back from that."

I couldn't stop myself, I broke away from Apollo, and tackled my son in a tight hug, "I'm so proud of you!" I mumbled into his chest (even my own son was taller than me, just my luck). Cai laughed and patted my back.

"But I don't understand," I stepped back from Cai, confusion filling my mind once again, "you killing Nyx doesn't make me any less dead. Plus I have no idea how you two are here because I specifically asked Hades to not let you see me."

"We got around that because you're not dead anymore," said Cai.

"You're making no sense!" I looked back at Apollo, "what is he talking about?"

"You're going to be a goddess Ri," Apollo was smiling wider than I had ever seen him smile.

"Me?" I laughed, "who in their right mind would make me a goddess."

"Zeus," said Cai.

"This is a bad joke, you don't actually expect me to believe that Zeus- who hates me- would choose to make me a goddess!"

"He didn't have a choice," Cai said smugly, "it had to be her child, and I lightly suggested that Zeus chose you."

"I'm so confused. Her child?"

"Nyx is dead," Apollo said, "we can't have no goddess of night can we, that would throw the whole balance off. We've never been in the situation where we've had to choose a new god before. Pan chose his own successor, and very few important gods have faded before now. Never has a god ever been completely killed."

"Athena suggested that we should stick with Nyx's bloodline. Then Artemis suggested you," said Cai, "Zeus wasn't so willing, but I persuaded him."

"He's your son through and through," laughed Apollo, "he was scary, you would be proud."

"You're going to be the Goddess of Night mum."

"No!" I shook my head, looking frantically between the two of them, "you can't really think that's something that I want!"

"You want to be dead?" Apollo asked.

"No, of course, I don't. Well, I'd sort of gotten used to it. But I don't want to be the goddess of night! That's everything I hate about myself! The parts that are her! I don't want to become her!"

"You could never be her," Apollo once again took my hands in his, "Ri, you are not one bit like her. All she ever wanted was power. You never wanted anything. Ri I love you, I can't lose you again. Ever."

"You don't understand," I stared into his blue eyes, "I can't."

"Mum please," Cai stared forwards, "I need you, dad needs you."

Both Apollo and Cai had looks of such desperation, such hope in their eyes. I saw that same expression on both of their faces. A look of confusion as to why I was being so resistant to their solution.

"If I took it, I would be just like her, seizing power without needing it," I said, "I can't become her. I won't."

"You're forgetting something," said Cai, with a glint of determination in his eyes that I often saw in the mirror when I looked at myself.

"What am I forgetting?"

"You have something that Nyx never had. You have people you care about, and people who care about you. You will never be like Nyx because unlike her, you care," Cai said triumphantly.

I stared at him open-mouthed, "when did you get so wise?"

"He gets it from his father," Apollo said smugly, "ow!" He complained when I punched his arm.

"So will you do it?" Cai asked eagerly.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, "okay."

"Let's go then!" Apollo grabbed my hand excitedly, and before I knew it, I was in the Olympic throne room. I blinked rapidly whilst my eyes adjusted to the newfound brightness. Once my eyes had adjusted, I saw the entire council sat on their seats. There was Cai, sat in his obsidian coloured chair, looking completely at home. And Artemis was sat in her silvery chair, I met her eyes for a moment, and saw the guilt etched all over her face. I made a mental note to tell her that none of it was her fault, that it was all Nyx's doing. Finally, my eyes rested on Apollo, who had not left my side, and whose hand was still holding my own in a tight grip, as if scared that I might disappear.

Apollo was looking straight ahead, his head tilted up, meeting the gaze of his father, Zeus, who was glaring at the pair of us. Apollo squeezed my hand, reassuring me, but in turn seeking my reassurance.

"Take your seat Apollo," Zeus spoke in a low rumbling voice.

"Go," I muttered when I saw how unwilling Apollo was to leave me. That was all it took. He released my hand and grew in size until he was big enough to sit comfortably on his throne.

"Ariadne Chester. Daughter of Nyx," said Zeus, "after the demise of the goddess of night, the council has been forced to vote in a replacement. The vote ended in your favour. Do you accept the position of the goddess of night with all the power and responsibilities that come with it?"

"I-" I cleared my throat, "I do."

"You will be resurrected anew, and rejoin the world of the living as an immortal goddess," Zeus said.

Before I could say anything else, Zeus raised his master bolt and pointed it at the sky. A strike of lightning hit above me, and I was surrounded by a bright light. The light seemed to penetrate right into my soul, and I felt it filling me with a strange warmth. It made me feel stronger than I ever had before.

When the light dissipated, I was left feeling slightly disoriented, but more powerful than ever.

"I present to you, the Olympic Council. Ariadne. The Goddess of Night and Lady of the Sun. Wife of Apollo, God of the Sun, Healing, Prophecy, Art, Music, Archery and Light and Mother of Caius, God of Life, Immortality and Mortality."

When Zeus finished, there was a strange silence in the Throne room, that seemed to pulsate off of the walls, bouncing around the room. I looked away from my hands, which I had been staring at as if I had never seen them before, to Apollo. With a jolt, I realised I was the same size as all of the gods.

Apollo was grinning widely at me, as he lounged back lazily in his throne. He quickly got to his feet and hurried over to where I stood, sweeping me into another tight hug. And I felt myself laughing. Laughing in relief, happiness and an overwhelming joy that consumed me.

And then Cai was putting his arms around me and hugging both me and Apollo.

I felt nothing but love for my boys. My wonderful husband, who despite all odds was here, alive, with me. And my beautiful son, who had done the impossible, and defeated my mother.

I was no longer Ariadne, the daughter of Nyx. That scared little girl who had cowered away from her mother flinched at the smallest movements and obeyed her mother's will.

I was Ariadne, the goddess of night. Surrounded by the ones I love. And I'd never been happier.

Thank you guys for all of your time spent reading this book! It's been quite a journey for me as well, Ri has gone from a figment of my strange imagination to having her entire story shared with all of you guys!

Now for the big announcement that I've been promising! 

There will be a sequel to the Daughter of Night titled The Demigod!

When you guys are reading this I will have already published the title part so you can all go and add it to your libraries. 

I'm not going to give anything away about the book apart from the fact that it will have the children of the characters from the original series featured and that the main character will be a girl named Olivia Spencer.

So, for the last time in this book *sniffs*

Remember to vote, comment and be amazing!

~Em xx